Four north-west Queenslanders have joined Queensland’s next generation of energy professionals as 2018 Ergon Energy apprentices.

They are among 76 new apprentices welcomed at inductions across the state including Townsville last month as they embark on a career in the state-owned electricity business.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham commended the apprentices, two from Julia Creek, one from Mount Isa and one from Normanton, on their career choice and commitment to the community.

“They are being inducted as apprentices with one of the state’s publicly-owned electricity businesses and I wish them all the best in their future careers serving the north-west region,” Dr Lynham said.

“They have signed up for a role that will be challenging and far from routine, but it will also be very rewarding.

“When nature lets fly, as it can in Queensland, communities rely on the Ergon crews to restore all-important power supply to homes and businesses.

“As they learn the skills of their trades, they will be responsible for helping to ensure people in regional and rural Queensland continue to enjoy a world-class, safe and reliable electricity supply.

“It’s the job of Ergon crews to keep the lights on and they often work in atrocious conditions to restore power after storms and cyclones.

“A trades apprenticeship is an excellent foundation in understanding the electricity industry, and some of Ergon’s executives and senior managers started their careers as apprentices.”

Energy Queensland Chief Executive David Smales said the 2018 intake continued Ergon’s commitment to training the workforce of tomorrow.

“It’s vital that we continue to teach and pass on the front-line expertise and skills now and into the future to deliver a safe and reliable electricity supply to customers,” he said.

“Most of our crews throughout the state began their careers in the industry as apprentices, just like this year’s intake, and the value and reliance the community places on their work soon becomes apparent to them – especially in times of natural disasters.”

The new apprentices will train as a communications technician, distribution linesperson, transmission linesperson, mechanical trade (diesel fitting) or electrician.

Once all the recruits have completed their initial training, the apprentices will return to their home depots.